Display device with panel positioning structure and method for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A panel display and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The panel display includes a frame, an elastic pad, and a display panel. The frame has a supporting tray and a side wall which perpendicularly extends from the end of the supporting tray. A groove is formed on the supporting tray adjacent to the foot of the side wall. One end of the elastic pad is located within the groove while the other end leans on the side wall before the display panel is configured with the frame. When entering the display panel into the frame, the edge of the display panel compels the elastic pad to bend and form a bottom portion and a side portion. The bottom portion is accommodated in the groove while the side portion is compressed by the edge of the display panel and lies on the side wall.

This application claims priority based on a Taiwanese Patent ApplicationNo. 098122387 filed on Jul. 2, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device and a method formanufacturing the same. In particularity, the present invention relatesto a display device capable of effectively positioning a display panelrelative to a frame and a method for manufacturing the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Since display panel devices have advantages such as thinness, lightweight, and portability, the demand for display panel devices increasesrapidly. As the technologies advance, higher requirements for design andassembly quality of the display panel device are made. In order toimprove the life-span and the yield of the product, the design of thedisplay panel device requires continuous improvements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of a conventional panel displaydevice. The conventional panel display device includes a front frame 10,a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel 20, an outer frame 30, and abacklight module 50. The outer frame 30 includes a side wall 31 and asupport portion 33, wherein the support portion 33 extends from the sidewall 31 toward the center of the outer frame 30. The LCD panel 20 isdisposed on the outer frame 30 and supported by the support portion 33while the side wall 31 surrounds around the side of the LCD panel 20.The backlight module 50 is disposed under the outer frame 30 and the LCDpanel 20 and emits lights toward the rear side of the LCD panel 20. Thefront frame 10 covers the edge of the LCD panel 20 from the display sideof the LCD 20 and the outer side of the outer frame 30 as well.

In the conventional design, the outer frame 30 is generally formed ofthermosetting plastic materials to provide better support. In addiction,in order to avoid the assembly problem caused by the productiontolerance, a gap usually exits between the side wall 31 of the outerframe 30 and the LCD panel 20. Since the friction generated between theouter frame 30 and the LCD panel 20 is not sufficient, the LCD penal 20may slide on the outer frame 30 and collide with the outer frame 30 tocause damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a display devicecapable of effectively positioning the display panel with respect to theframe.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a displaydevice which reduces the possibility of damaging the display panel.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor manufacturing a display device, which prevents the display panelfrom being damaged.

The display device includes a frame, an elastic pad, and a displaypanel. The display panel is disposed on the frame and supported by theframe. The elastic pad is sandwiched between the display panel and theframe and configured to position the display panel with respect to theframe. The frame has a supporting tray and a side wall which isconnected to the supporting tray and upwardly extends from the end ofthe supporting tray. The supporting tray and the side wall together forman open accommodating space. A groove is formed on the supporting trayadjacent to the foot of the side wall.

The elastic pad has an elastic modulus greater than that of the frame,so that the elastic pad is susceptible to deformation under force.Before the display panel is disposed on the frame and the elastic pad,one end of the elastic pad is located within the groove while the otherend leans on the side wall. When the display panel is placed on theframe, the edge of the display panel presses the middle portion of theelastic pad and compels the elastic pad to bend and form a bottomportion and a side portion. The bottom portion is accommodated in thegroove while the side portion is compressed by the edge of the displaypanel and is attached to the inner surface of the side wall. Since anormal force is generated when the display panel presses the sideportion, a frictional force is generated between the display panel andthe side portion. Therefore, the display panel is not susceptible tomove relative to the frame and the positioning effect is achieved.

The method of manufacturing a display device includes the followingsteps: forming a frame in a manner that the frame has a supporting trayand a side wall, and the supporting tray and the side wall togetherenclose an accommodating space; forming a groove in the supporting trayadjacent to the side wall; disposing an elastic pad in a manner that theelastic pad leans on the side wall and one end of the elastic pad isconnected to a bottom of the groove; and disposing a display panel intothe accommodating space in a manner that a side edge of the displaypanel presses the elastic pad so that the elastic pad is bent to form abottom portion and a side portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a conventionalpanel display device;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a display device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the display device beforeassembly;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 after assembly;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the display device using athinner elastic pad;

FIG. 6A illustrates a schematic view of another embodiment of theelastic pad;

FIG. 6B illustrates a schematic view of another embodiment of theelastic pad;

FIG. 7A illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of a positioningprotrusion;

FIG. 7B illustrates a schematic view of FIG. 7A after assembly;

FIG. 8A illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of a recessdisposed on the side wall;

FIG. 8B illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of a lead angledisposed in the side wall;

FIG. 9A illustrates a schematic view of an embodiment of thedistribution of the elastic pad;

FIG. 9B illustrates a schematic view of another embodiment of thedistribution of the elastic pad; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart of a method for manufacturing a displaydevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a display device and a method formanufacturing the same. In a preferred embodiment, the display device ofthe present invention is a LCD display device including home television,LCD monitor for desktop computer or laptop computer, LCD screen formobile phone, digital camera, etc.

As FIG. 2 shows, the display device includes a frame 100, an elastic pad300, and a display panel 500. The display panel 500 is disposed on theframe 100 and supported by the frame 100. The elastic pad 300 issandwiched between the display panel 500 and the frame 100 to position arelative position between the display panel 500 and the frame 100. Inthe embodiment, the display device further includes a front frame 200and a backlight module 400. As FIG. 2 shows, the front frame 200 coverson the top and the side of the display panel 500 and the frame 100 andexposes a display surface 530 of the display panel 500. The backlightmodule 400 is preferably also covered by the frame 100, but not limitedthereto. The backlight module 400 is disposed under the display panel500 and emits lights toward a bottom surface 510 of the display panel500, such that the display panel 500 can display images on the displaysurface 530 which is opposite to the bottom surface 510. In otherembodiments, however, the display device may not be disposed with thebacklight module 400 but adopts the front incident light method. In thiscase, the display panel 500 is preferably implemented with a displaypanel eliminating the backlight module 400, such as a reflective liquidcrystal panel or an electrophoretic display panel, etc. In addition toliquid crystal panel and electrophoretic display panel, the displaypanel 500 may be an organic light-emitting diode panel or other suitablepanels.

As FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show, the frame 100 has a supporting tray 110 and aside wall 130. The side wall 130 is connected to the edge of thesupporting tray 110 and extends upwardly, i.e., extends toward thedirection of the front frame 200. The portion of the side wall 130 whichextends upwardly may cover the side face of the display panel 500. AsFIG. 3 shows, the supporting tray 110 and the side wall 130 togetherenclose an open accommodating space. The supporting tray 110 and theside wall 130 are disposed on the bottom and the side of theaccommodating space, respectively. In the embodiment, the side wall 130may also extend downwardly from the edge of the supporting tray 110 tocover the side face of the backlight module 400. As FIG. 2 and FIG. 3show, a groove 150 is formed in the supporting tray 110 adjacent to thebottom end of the side wall 130. In the embodiment, the side wall 130serves as an inner side wall of the groove 150 while the groove 150extends along the side wall 130 to be a rectangular shape, but notlimited thereto.

The elastic pad 300 is preferably a rectangular pad which is resilient,and its length is greater than the cross-sectional width of the groove150, i.e., a distance from the bottom end of the side wall 130 to theother end of the groove 150. The elastic pad 300 has an elastic modulusgreater than that of the frame 100. Thus, the elastic pad 300 issusceptible to deformation under force, i.e. is more easily deformedthan the frame 100. As FIGS. 2 and 3 show, before the display panel 500is placed on the frame 100 and the elastic pad 300, the thickness of theelastic pad 300 is preferably greater than the depth of the groove 150.However, when the display panel 500 is placed on the frame 100, as shownin FIG. 4, the thickness of the elastic pad 300 is preferably compressedto be lightly higher than or similar to the depth of the groove 150.Furthermore, the elastic pad 300 is preferably made of rubber. In otherembodiments, however, the elastic pad 300 may be made of foams,plastics, or non-plastics.

Before the display panel 500 is placed on the frame 100 and the elasticpad 300, one end of the elastic pad 300 is connected to the groove 150,and the other end leans on the side wall 130. The elastic pad 300 ispreferably a flat elastic pad. However, when the display panel 500 isplaced on the frame 100, as FIG. 4 shows, the side edge 550 of thedisplay panel 500 presses the middle portion of the elastic pad 300downwardly, such that the elastic pad 300 is bent to form a bottomportion 310 and a side portion 330. The bottom portion 310 isaccommodated in the groove 150, and the thickness of the bottom portion310 is preferably compressed to be similar to the depth of the groove150. In the meantime, the bottom portion 310 and the supporting tray 110of the frame 110 together support the bottom surface 510 of the displaypanel 500. In other embodiments, however, the thickness of the bottomportion 310 may be designed to be the same as the depth of the groove150 when it is not under force and in contact with the bottom surface510 of the display panel 500. In the embodiment, the frictioncoefficient of the bottom portion 310 is preferably greater than that ofthe supporting tray 110, such that a greater static friction between thedisplay panel 500 and the bottom portion 310 can be obtained. Thus, thedisplay panel 500 is not susceptible to move and the positioning effectcan be achieved. In addition, a normal force is generated when thedisplay panel 500 presses the bottom portion 310. The normal force alsoenhances the friction force between the display panel 500 and the bottomportion 310.

As FIG. 4 shows, the side portion 330 pressed by the side edge 550 ofthe display panel 500 is in contact with an inner surface of the sidewall 130. Since the side edge 550 of the display panel 500 correspondsto the side wall 130, the side portion 330 is sandwiched between theside edge 550 of the display panel 500 and the side wall 130. A normalforce is generated as the display panel 500 presses the side portion330, such that a frictional force is generated between the display panel500 and the side portion 330, and the display panel 500 is accordinglynot susceptible to move and the positioning effect can be furtherenhanced. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the bottom surface 510 ofthe display panel 500 is in contact with the bottom portion 310 of theelastic pad 300 and the friction is accordingly generated therebetween.In other embodiments, however, as shown in FIG. 5, the design of athinner elastic pad 300 or a deeper groove 150 may be implemented, suchthat the bottom surface 510 of the display panel 500 is not in contactwith the bottom portion 310. In such a case, the display panel 500 ispositioned by the friction between the side edge 550 of the displaypanel 500 and the side portion 330 of the elastic pad 300.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B, the side portion 330 andthe bottom portion 310 of the elastic pad 300 may have differentthickness for different positioning requirements. As FIG. 6A shows, thethickness of the side portion 330 is greater than that of the bottomportion 310. In such a case, the effect of the side portion 330positioning the side edge of the display panel 500 and its positioningforce can be increased. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6B, thethickness of the bottom portion 310 is greater than that of the sideportion 330. In such a case, the friction between the bottom portion 310and the bottom surface 510 of the display panel 500 can be increased toenhance the positioning effect.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, a positioning protrusion331 is formed on the side portion 330 of the elastic pad 300. As FIG. 7Ashows, the positioning protrusion 331 is disposed on one side of theside portion 330 which faces toward the display panel 500. When thedisplay panel 500 is assembled with the frame 100, the side edge 550 ofthe display panel 500 presses the elastic pad 300, such that the sideportion 330 is attached to the side edge 550, i.e. the side portion 330is preferably substantially completely in contact with the side edge550. In such a case, the positioning protrusion 331 contacts and engageswith a top end of the side edge 550 of the display panel 500 to preventthe detachment of the display panel 500 from the frame 100. In theembodiment, the positioning protrusion 331 is preferably formed as a riband extends along the top end of the side edge 550 of the display panel500. In other embodiments, however, the positioning protrusion 331 maybe a protrusion or a plurality of protrusion structures.

In addition, as FIG. 8A shows, a recess 131 is formed in the side wall130 of the frame 100 corresponding to the elastic pad 300. Moreover, thelocation of the recess 131 preferably corresponds to the groove 150.When the elastic pad 300 is placed on the frame 100, two sides of theside wall 130 defining the recess 131 can clamp and position the elasticpad 300 therebetween. Furthermore, the depth of the recess 131 can beselected to adjust the tilted angle of the elastic pad 300 when theelastic pad 300 is disposed correspondingly. The recess 131 ispreferably recessed from the top end of the side wall 130 toward thedirection of the supporting tray 110, and the portion of the side wall130 under the recess 131 is left with a height preferably higher thanthe thickness of the display panel 500. Thus, when the display panel 500is assembled with the frame 100, the side wall 130 may still support theside portion 330 of the elastic pad 300. In other embodiments, however,the side wall 130 may be formed without the recess 131 and still canachieve the purpose to position the elastic pad 300. Furthermore, asFIG. 8B shows, on the portion of the side wall 130 under the recess 131,a lead angle 133 is preferably formed at a location where a top end ofthe portion of the side wall 130 corresponding to the recess 131 meetsthe inner surface of the side wall 130. For example, the top corner ofthe side wall 131 corresponding to the elastic pad 300 can be a roundedcorner. Through the design, when the display panel 500 is assembled withthe frame 100, the elastic pad 300 may be moved downward along the leadangle 133 smoothly and bent to be in contact with the side wall 130 andthe groove 150. When the side wall 130 is not disposed with the recess131, the lead angle 133 may be applied to the top end of the side wall130 corresponding to the position of the elastic pad 300.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9A, the elastic pad 300 is preferablydistributed uniformly on two ends and the center of each side of theframe 100. For example, 3 elastic pads are uniformly distributed on oneside of the frame 100, but not limited thereto. In other embodiments,however, in the FIG. 9B, the elastic pad 300 may be a bar having alength equal to each side of the frame 100 to increase the force ofpositioning the display panel 500, but not limited thereto. In addition,by adjusting the width, area, and position of the elastic pad 300, theforce of positioning the display panel 500 can be adjusted and theassembly requirements can be met.

FIG. 10 illustrates a flow chart of a method for manufacturing thedisplay device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. Step 1010 includes forming a frame 100 in a manner that theframe 100 has a supporting tray 100 and a side wall 130, and thesupporting tray 110 and the side wall 130 together enclose anaccommodating space. In an embodiment, the frame 100 is preferably madeof thermosetting plastics by injection molding. In other embodiments,however, the frame 100 may be made of different materials and bydifferent processes.

Step 1030 includes forming a groove in the supporting tray 110 adjacentto the side wall 130. In an embodiment, the forming of the groove 150 isto manufacture a mold with a bump corresponding to the groove 150 inadvance, and then the groove 150 can be formed adjacent to the side wall130 simultaneously as the frame 100 is made by injection molding.Moreover, the groove 150 is preferably distributed uniformly on two endsand the center of each side of the frame 100. In other embodiments,however, the groove 150 can be a bar shaped groove having a length equalto each side of the frame 100. Furthermore, the side wall 130 can beselectively formed with a recess 131 corresponding to the groove 150.The top end of the side wall 130 can be selectively formed with a leadangle to facilitate the elastic pad 300 to slide smoothly and toincrease the assembly convenience.

Step 1050 includes disposing an elastic pad 300 to lean on the side wall130 so that one end of the elastic pad 300 is connected to a bottom ofthe groove 150. The elastic pad 300 preferably leans on the top end ofthe side wall 130 or can lean on an inner side of the side wall 130. Inthe embodiment, the bottom end of the bottom portion 310 of the elasticpad 300 is preferably fixed on the bottom of the groove 150 by adhesive.In other embodiments, however, the end of the bottom portion 310 can befixed to the groove 150 by latch or other suitable fixing means.Furthermore, the edge of the bottom portion 310 can be just in contactwith the edge of the groove 150. In an embodiment, the thickness of theelastic pad 300 is preferably greater than the depth of the groove 150.However, in other embodiment, the thickness of the elastic pad 300 canbe equal to or smaller than the depth of the groove 150. The width ofthe elastic pad 300 is preferably equal to the width of the groove 150,but not limited thereto.

Step 1070 includes disposing a display panel 500 in the accommodatingspace in a manner that a side edge 550 of the display panel 500 pressesthe elastic pad 300 so that the elastic pad 300 is bent to form thebottom portion 310 and the side portion 330. The bottom portion 310 ispressed into the groove 150 while the side portion 330 is compressed bythe side edge 550 of the display panel 500 and attached to an innersurface of the side wall 130. If the thickness of the bottom portion 310is greater than the depth of the groove 150, the bottom portion 310 canbe compressed to a level same as the depth of groove 150. A normal forceis generated while the display panel 500 presses the side portion 330,and therefore, a friction is generated between the display panel 500 andthe side portion 330. Accordingly, the display panel 500 is notsusceptible to move with respect to the frame 100 and the positioningeffect is achieved. In addition, the friction coefficient of the bottomportion 310 is greater than that of the supporting tray 110. Thus, thestatic friction between the bottom portion 310 and the bottom surface ofthe display panel 500 is greater than that between the supporting trayand the bottom surface of the display panel, such that the display panel500 can not move easily and the positioning effect is achieved.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Furthermodification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to thoseskilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed tobe within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A display device, comprising: a frame having a supportingtray, a protrusion, and a side wall, the side wall upwardly extendingfrom an edge of the supporting tray, and the protrusion upwardlyextending from another edge of the supporting tray, wherein thesupporting tray, the protrusion, and the side wall together enclose anaccommodating space; an elastic pad, one end of the elastic pad beingsupported by a top edge of the side wall and the other end of theelastic pad being attached to an inner surface of the protrusion, andthen the elastic pad being bent to form a bottom portion and a sideportion, the bottom portion accommodated in the accommodating spacewhile the side portion attached to an inner surface of the side wall,wherein the elastic pad has an elastic modulus higher than that of theside wall; and a display panel disposed in the accommodating space, thesupporting tray supporting a bottom surface of the display panel,wherein a side edge of the display panel corresponds to the side wall ofthe frame and compresses the side portion of the elastic pad.
 2. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the elastic padhas a thickness greater than a depth of the groove before the bottomportion is compressed.
 3. The display device of claim 2, wherein thebottom portion supports the bottom surface of the display panel, a unitstatic friction between the bottom portion and the bottom surface of thedisplay panel is greater than that between the supporting tray and thebottom surface of the display panel.
 4. The display device of claim 1,wherein the elastic pad has a friction coefficient greater than that ofthe frame.
 5. The display device of claim 1, wherein a positioningprotrusion is formed on the side portion corresponding to the side edgeof the display panel, the positioning protrusion comes into contact witha top end of the side edge of the display panel.
 6. The display deviceof claim 5, wherein the positioning protrusion is a rib distributedalong the top end of the side edge of the display panel.
 7. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein an end of the bottom portion is fixed on abottom of the groove.
 8. The display device of claim 1, wherein an endof the bottom portion comes into contact with an edge of the groove. 9.The display device of claim 1, wherein a recess is formed in the sidewall corresponding to the elastic pad, the recess has a width not lessthan that of the elastic pad.
 10. The display device of claim 9, whereina lead angle is formed at a location where a top end of the recesscorresponding to the side wall meets the inner surface of the side wall.11. The display device of claim 1, wherein a lead angle is formed at alocation where the inner surface of the side wall meets the top end ofthe side wall.